Archbishop Burke Becomes the Prefect of the Signatura
I got the news this morning. We seminarians of Kenrick-Glennon will sorely miss Archbishop Burke but at the same time are proud of him and joyful for the whole Church.
Here are the Most Rev. Raymond Burke’s words:
June 27, 2008 – Memorial of Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE ARCHDIOCESAN CURIA:
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today, at noon in Rome (5 a.m. CDT), it was announced that His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, has named me Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, effective immediately. With the announcement, I ceased to be the Archbishop of Saint Louis.
I am deeply humbled by the trust which His Holiness has placed in me, and, in priestly obedience, I have pledged to serve our Holy Father to the best of my abilities. Although you will no longer pray for me as your Archbishop, I ask your continued prayers for me, that I may faithfully and generously cooperate with God’s grace in fulfilling my new responsibilities.
Leaving the service of the Church in the Archdiocese of Saint Louis is most sad for me. It has been an honor and gift for me to serve the Archdiocese over the past four years and five months. It had been my hope to serve here for a long time, but, as the Bishop who called me to priestly ordination often remarked, “Man proposes, but God disposes.” I trust that doing what our Holy Father has asked me to do will bring blessings to the Archdiocese of Saint Louis and to me. Saint Louis is a great archdiocese which will always have a most treasured place in my heart.
In a particular way, I am saddened to leave you who have worked so closely with me in the pastoral care and governance of the Archdiocese. I thank you for your faithful and generous cooperation and collaboration with me.
With regard to the governance of the Archdiocese, the College of Consultors will meet, in the early afternoon, to elect an Archdiocesan Administrator who, with the help of the Consultors, will govern the Archdiocese, until the new Archbishop is appointed and installed. Please pray for the College of Consultors and for the Archdiocesan Administrator whom they will elect.
Although I am not fond of long farewells, it will take me some time to put my papers in order and to make the transfer to Rome. I will travel to Rome on July 1st next and will return to the Archdiocese on July 10th next. After that time, I will have to dedicate myself intensely to preparing for my definitive departure for Rome, which is scheduled to take place on or around August 22nd next. Also, as you may be aware, I am committed to the celebration of the Solemn Dedication of the Church of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe at La Crosse, of which I am the founder, during the last days of July and the first days of August. I, however, trust that, before I depart for Rome, I will have an occasion to express to you, personally and directly, my heartfelt gratitude.
Again, I ask your prayers. You can count upon my daily prayers for you and for the Archdiocese of Saint Louis.
Asking God’s blessing upon you and your service of the Church, I remain
Yours devotedly in Christ,
(Most Rev.) Raymond L. Burke
Archbishop Emeritus of Saint Louis
There is a press conference this morning at 11:00 CST, I believe.